Come 2010, steam locomotives will be back on tracks in Delhi. The Railways have decided to run steam trains on the Delhi ring railway route as part of its Heritage Experience Plan for the Commonwealth Games.
The train consisting of six heritage coaches with a steam locomotive would start from Safdarjung station and travel to Anand Vihar, Old Yamuna Bridge, Old Delhi, New Delhi and Nizamuddin station before returning to Safdarjung. "We are working out details of the project.
The aim is to showcase our heritage properties by facilitating visitors to have a glimpse of these during the Games in 2010," said a senior Railway Ministry official. One will be able to visit the Red Fort, Chandni Chowk, National Rail Museum, historic Old Yamuna Bridge, Humayun's tomb and rail buildings such as Old Delhi station, Kashmere Gate and Baroda House travelling by the steam train journey.
"However, we have not decided the fares yet. There will be two options.
One can opt for the round trip or the hop-on-hop-off ticket," said the official and added a steam loco timetable will be published soon. Railways are also trying to involve Delhi government and Tourism Ministry in its endeavour to make the steam loco experience a successful venture.
"Steam locomotives are the very heart of Railways' heritage. We will take all possible measures to promote heritage tourism through our steam locomotives," Railways Minister Lalu Prasad has said in his budget speech.
Source: PTI March-30-08
